Unvaccinated children at risk of Polio – WHO

The World Health Organization – WHO is stressing that countries are still at risk of polio unless all eligible children are vaccinated during routine and supplementary immunization services.

This follows Wednesday’s opening of the Polio Supplementary Immunization Activity round one for 2023 targeting 9 million children.

Last year, the country was notified of a Wild Polio virus Type 1 and since then three more cases have been identified in children under 15 years.

More cases have also been recorded in countries neighbouring Malawi like Mozambique among others.

The launch started with a solidarity walk from Ndirande Market to Chilunga Ground in the same Township.

WHO country representative Neema Kimambo expressed concern with the rising cases in many countries hence calling on their governments to be vigilant

She said; “we will provide all the required support to ensure that children are safe and the disease is controlled.”

On her part, health minister Khumbize Chiponda called on parents and guardians to allow their children receive the oral vaccine.

“We have had cases where children have been stopped from receiving vaccines because myths and some believes. We do not want to have same scenariors this time and we hope parents will help us in this exercise.”

The oral polio vaccine is expected to be administered from Wednesday to Satruday this week in all districts across the country through door to door as well as schools and health facilities.